What is Christian Nationalism?

Written By WYPOF

What is Christian nationalism? | Explainer by Andrew Whitehead, PhD.

Christian nationalism is a cultural framework—a collection of myths, traditions, symbols, narratives, and value systems—that idealizes and advocates a fusion of a particular expression of Christianity with American civic life.

It holds that this version of Christianity should be the principal and undisputed cultural framework in the United States and that the govt should vigorously preserve that cultural framework.

While the particular expression of Christianity referenced in Christian nationalism does refer to theological or orthodox beliefs, it also brings with it what I like to refer to as extra cultural baggage.

There are 4 elements of Christian nationalism that underscore the threat it poses to a pluralistic, democratic society. And survey research over the last decade and a half consistently demonstrates each element exists across the American adult population.

The first element of Christian nationalism is a desire for a society organized according to traditionalist social arrangements. Christian nationalism is strongly associated with support for traditionalist social arrangements, relationships, and hierarchies. The ideal society is one where men lead and women support, marriage is ideally heterosexual, and families with a mom and a dad are committed to procreation.

American citizens and families that represent these ideals will have the easiest access to civil rights and liberties. Those who do not embrace these ideals will consequently be denied easy access.

The second element of Christian nationalism is authoritarian social control. The world is viewed as a chaotic place and we need strong leaders who through the threat of violence, or actual violence, defend the preferred social arrangements and hierarchies.

In surveys of the American public, support for authoritarian social control to ensure traditionalist social arrangements is associated with Christian nationalism.

The third element of Christian nationalism is strong ethno-racial boundaries around national identity, civic participation, and social belonging. The ideal American is generally understood to be a natural-born, Anglo Protestant.

It is this group who created the United States, and it is this group who should remain central to its cultural identity and political leadership. 

A final element of Christian nationalism is a populist impulse that creates space for Americans to embrace feelings of victimization—that certain “elites” are trying to persecute them—which lends itself to adopting more conspiratorial thinking.

What might be the result of the combined cultural elements of Christian nationalism? A very real threat to democracy. This commitment to particular traditionalist social arrangements, a comfort with authoritarian social control, a defense of ethno-racial boundaries, and an embrace of populist and conspiratorial thinking—all legitimated in the will of the sacred—comprise the threat Christian nationalism poses to a pluralistic democratic society.

Millions of Americans prefer a society where this particular expression of Christianity, and all the cultural baggage that comes with it, organize our social lives. And if God has willed it, who are we to stand in the way?

Is this a country, in Lincoln’s works, “of the people, by the people, for the people,” or in the vision of those who embrace Christian nationalism, “of a particular people, by a particular people, and for a particular people”?

Understanding not only what Christian nationalism is, but the elements and commitments of it, will help equip us to push back and advocate for a country where all are welcome and have access to the civil sphere and benefits of citizenship.

Source: PRRI (2023) • Created with Datawrapper

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